Junior Lexy Harris led the Bears to a win over UChicago. (Bobby Kaplan | Staff Photographer)

In the first two minutes of WashU women’s basketball’s matchup against the No. 17 University of Chicago, senior forward Jordan Rich racked up an impressive 4 points, two steals, and an assist.

Rich’s strong start came after an emotional Senior Day ceremony, where Rich, as the sole senior on the team, was celebrated by her teammates and family before being awarded the Robert L. Pierce 110% Award for her commitment and perseverance to her team.

Playing all 40 minutes of the game, Rich would go on to tally 11 points, three steals, and a career-high seven assists — and it was this last accomplishment that meant the most to her.

“I think it was a ‘play for each other’ type of day,” Rich said. “We talked a lot about fighting for everyone and making sure that everyone feels loved on a special day like that. So I think that really empowered us.”

This shared commitment has been a core aspect of WashU’s mindset this season, and it has certainly paid off. In head coach Lisa Stone’s second year, she led the Bears to a 19-6 record — their best since the 2018-19 season. WashU also finished second in the University Athletic Association (UAA) standings and secured a spot in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

Despite having already clinched a postseason berth, the Bears began the UChicago game with intensity, boosted by Rich’s early contributions. However the Maroons responded quickly, with the two teams trading baskets for much of the first quarter. A step-back jumper from Rich gave the Bears a slight 17-15 advantage at the whistle.

WashU stayed in control for the entire second quarter, holding the Maroons scoreless for the first three minutes to take an 8-point lead on a contested layup by junior center Lexy Harris. After a corner three from sophomore guard Ava Blagojevich, the Bears celebrated as they headed into the locker room at the half.

“[Blagojevich] is the person that just hits really big and really important shots for us,” Harris said. “This really comes from her being in the gym every single day, … and I’m just so happy that she’s finally getting the shine and all her work is paying off.”

WashU continued to dominate at the beginning of the third quarter, expanding their lead to as many as 12 points. However, increased intensity and a full-court press from the Maroons caused the Bears to falter, and their lead slipped to only 5 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

“I think [the full-court press] was a good idea by UChicago — we definitely struggled with it at first,” said Rich. “Our main focus was just becoming more comfortable with being confident in ourselves. And I think we did a good job of eventually breaking it and using it to our advantage.”

While the Maroons maintained their defensive intensity, they began to tire on the other end of the court, allowing the Bears to end the game on a 11-4 stretch and ultimately secure the 64-52 victory.

Besides Rich’s 11 points, two other Bears also achieved double digits — Harris scored 15 while junior guard Sidney Rogers tallied 14. Their efforts headlined a strong offensive showing from the WashU team, who shot 52.9% from the field.

After finishing the regular season on such a high note, the Bears will enter the NCAA tournament hot.

“It’s so special to have someone that has all of those qualities and to be their teammate,” said Harris about Rich. “So I’m very happy that we beat Chicago on her Senior Day. It means the world for her, but also for all of us to just see her succeed.”